Strix Group PLC Successful Patent and IP Protection (9442O)

TIDMKETL

RNS Number : 9442O

Strix Group PLC

23 May 2018

Strix Group Plc

("Strix" or the "Group")

Successful Patent and IP Protection

Strix Group Plc (AIM: KETL), the AIM listed global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other complementary water temperature management components, is pleased to provide an update on its patent protection strategy.

Strix has a portfolio of intellectual property protecting a variety of product features across its product range. The portfolio includes over 150 patents and Strix relies on these and, where they have expired, other IP and unfair competition law to take legal action, both to defend the Company's commercial position and ensure consumer safety. Examples of action taken in the last six months in China and Europe include:

 
      --   As detailed in the recent Preliminary Results 
            announcement, the China domestic market 
            has seen an increase in electronic multi-cooker 
            appliances and Strix will launch a revised 
            control in H2 2018 to secure a share of 
            this growth opportunity whilst continuing 
            to defend its existing patented technology. 
            Against this background, Strix brought 
            patent infringement claims against 19 appliances 
            sold by Bears Electric Appliances Co., 
            Ltd to the Shanghai IP Court which was 
            successfully settled as set out below. 
      --   In an example highlighting the different 
            ways the Company can protect its position 
            concerning its older products, Strix brought 
            a claim based on copyright law against 
            Adriaanse Import & Export B.V. and Edco 
            Eindhoven B.V. who had imported kettles 
            into the Netherlands which, according to 
            Strix, incorporated copies of its controls 
            and connectors. The parties subsequently 
            settled matters as set out below. 
      --   Strix continues to monitor growing internet 
            product sales and takes action where appropriate. 
            The Company recently brought complaints 
            of electronic kettle patent infringement 
            to the attention of Amazon which swiftly 
            resulted in five webpages being removed 
            from their platforms across Europe. One 
            vendor, Kinden, settled with Strix as set 
            out below, agreed to replace the alleged 
            infringing electronic kettle control with 
            a Strix product and has since been re-listed. 
 

Mark Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We take protecting our innovative technology and superior products very seriously, ensuring that customers can continue to trust and rely on products using Strix technology.

"We continually monitor appliances in the market to prevent the sale of products that do not meet international standards or that infringe our IP. We will continue to take further action, as appropriate, reinforcing our market leading brand and ensuring that consumers can benefit from safe, high quality products."

For further enquiries, please contact:

 
 Strix Group Plc 
  Mark Bartlett (CEO)                  01624 829 
  Raudres Wong (CFO)                    829 
 Zeus Capital Limited (Nominated 
  Adviser) 
  Nick Cowles / Jamie Peel / Jordan 
  Warburton (Corporate Finance) 
  Dominic King (Corporate Broking)     020 3829 5000 
 IFC Advisory Limited (Financial 
  PR & IR) 
  Graham Herring / Tim Metcalfe / 
  Heather Armstrong                    020 3934 6630 
 

Notes to Editors:

Bears agreed settlement text:

Strix brought a patent infringement claim against Bears Electric Appliances Co., Ltd. (also known as Xiao Xiong Electric) who have been manufacturing and selling electronic appliances in the People's Republic of China that incorporated controls and connectors that Strix believed infringed its China patent no. 00802943.1. The two parties reached a settlement through friendly consultations and Strix and Xiao Xiong Electric signed an agreement whereby Xiao Xiong Electric undertook to fit Strix controls and connectors to its range of electronic appliances and to no longer purchase controls and connectors from other suppliers that infringed Strix's patent. Furthermore, Xiao Xiong Electric undertook to pay compensation to Strix who agreed in turn to apply to the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court of the People's Republic of China to withdraw the indictment with the case number 2018H73MC43.

Edco agreed settlement text:

Strix brought a claim against Adriaanse Import & Export B.V. and Edco Eindhoven B.V (Edco) who imported kettles into the Netherlands which, according to Strix, incorporated copy controls of the original Strix controls which infringed Dutch IP law. The parties settled matters and Edco agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Strix.

Kinden agreed settlement text:

Strix brought a patent infringement claim against Shenzhen Aotuer Technology Co. Ltd. (also known as Kinden) who imported kettles into the UK, Germany and France and sold them via Amazon that incorporated controls and connectors that infringed Strix's European patent EP1858297B1 and also its Chinese patent ZL00802943.1 where the kettles were made and exported. The parties settled matters and Kinden agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Strix and undertook to cease and desist from infringing Strix's intellectual property in the future.

About Strix Group plc

Isle of Man based Strix, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other components and devices involving water heating and temperature control, steam management and water filtration.

Strix's core product range comprises a variety of safety controls for small domestic appliances, primarily kettles. Kettle safety controls require precision engineering and intricate knowledge of material properties in order to repeatedly function correctly. Strix has built up market leading capability and know-how in this field since being founded in 1982.

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May 23, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)